In the Know

Good Optics vs Bad OpticsGood optics are used and needed to diffuse the light. Poor optics can and will reduce the light output of a LED light bar. There are two types of optics used for LED’s; primary optics which are a protective casing the LED serving two purposes, to protect and shape the light output of the diode. Secondary optics are optical elements used in addition to the primary optics to shape the LED light output. Good optics will allow a viewing angle or light distribution of 60 degrees. Poor optics will not only be dimmer but will have a viewing angle of 30 degrees or less. Optics are primarily made from optic grade acrylic or polycarbonate. True purpose of an optic is to increase the relative luminous intensity. So that said the surface quality and accuracy of shape are vital to ensure even spread of light and for restricting losses in light output. That's why we use Cree LED’s with the correct Cree patented optics, which gives you most out of your LED light bar.

Best Quality Optics

Good Quality Optics

Poor Quality Optics

What are IP LED Ratings?IP ratings are to specify the amount of protection the LED receives from natural elements. IP stands for Ingress Protection. Each IP rating has two numbers. The first number informs the protection you receive against solid objects, and the second number refers to liquid protection. The chart below will allow you to see what protection your LED has. All Apoc Industries LED light bars or rated IP68.

Lexan/Polycarbonate GlassSheet grade polycarbonate (aka Lexan or Makrolon) and acrylic sheet (aka Lucite) are two of the most frequently used see-through plastics. Each of the two have pros and cons. Acrylic is shinier vs polycarbonate is stronger. Acrylic is cheaper but easier to crack versus polycarbonate which is more impact resistant. Both are stronger and lighter than untempered glass; acrylic is 4x to 8x stronger than any glass, while polycarb is about 200x stronger. We here at Apoc Industries use a polycarbonate (Lexan) lens on all our LED light bars.